Applications for the Imperial College London Global Development Fellowship closed on 28 November 2025, and the placements it funded have already run their course, since every placement had to begin in March 2026 and finish no later than 31 July 2026. Here’s the honest situation for anyone hoping to plan ahead: Imperial’s own fellowship page states directly that they cannot yet confirm whether this scheme will open again, which is different from most recurring fellowships covered here — there’s no guaranteed next cycle to count on, and the university is asking interested applicants to register their interest rather than wait for an announced date.
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The programme sat inside Imperial’s Global Development Hub, a unit specifically focused on amplifying research and education impact in Lower Middle Income and Least Developed Countries, and that focus shaped every part of the eligibility criteria rather than being a marketing label. Unlike a general international fellowship open to any strong PhD candidate, this scheme was deliberately restricted to students already living and studying within an LDC or LMIC as defined by the OECD’s Official Development Assistance list. This guide covers who it was built for, what a genuinely comprehensive support package looked like, and what to do right now if you want to be first in line should it reopen.
Fellowship Overview
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | Imperial College London Global Development Fellowship |
| Host Country ⇒ | United Kingdom |
| Study Level ⇒ | Fellowships (PhD) |
| Benefits ⇒ | £1,900 monthly stipend, travel support, visa support, no bench or tuition fees |
| Funded By ⇒ | Imperial College London International Relations Office (Global Development Hub) |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | Least Developed Countries and Lower Middle Income Countries (OECD ODA list) |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | 2025/2026 cycle closed 28 November 2025, with placements running March–July 2026. |
What the Imperial College London Global Development Fellowship Covers
The fellowship was built to remove financial barriers entirely rather than offer partial support, which is part of what made it genuinely rare among short-term research placements.
- Monthly stipend: £1,900 to cover living costs in London for the full two-to-four month duration
- Arrival payment: a one-off £200 payment on landing in the UK, aimed at immediate settling costs before the monthly stipend cycle began
- Return flights: economy class airfare covered in both directions
- Visa costs: both the standard visa application fee and the Biometric Residence Permit fee covered in full
- Visa centre travel: support specifically for reaching visa application centres in your home country, which can be a genuine logistical and financial barrier on its own
- No bench or tuition fees: host departments at Imperial waived these entirely for fellows, removing a cost most short-term visiting researcher schemes still pass on
- What wasn’t covered: accommodation in London was explicitly excluded, though guidance was provided, and the fellowship did not support dependents joining the fellow during the placement
How Selection Worked
Applications went through a formal review by the Global Development Fellowship Committee in early December, following the November deadline, with decisions communicated by email. Both required letters — the Letter of Recommendation from the home supervisor and the Letter of Support from the Imperial host supervisor — had to be emailed directly to the fellowship team rather than uploaded through the general application form, which meant coordinating two separate international academics on two separate timelines was a genuine part of the process, not a formality. Applicants working in certain research fields also needed to secure ATAS clearance, which can take up to three months to process, making early preparation essential regardless of how strong the rest of an application was.
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Eligibility Requirements for the Fellowship
- You needed to be a current PhD student, more than 12 months into your programme by the time the placement began
- You needed to hold a passport and be a permanent resident of a country listed as a Least Developed Country or Lower Middle Income Country on the OECD ODA list
- You needed to be currently studying for your PhD at an institution physically located within an LDC or LMIC — not simply holding citizenship from one while studying elsewhere
- You needed a Letter of Support from a proposed Imperial College academic supervisor, signed by that department’s Head of Department
- You needed a Letter of Recommendation from your current PhD supervisor at home, explicitly confirming your English proficiency was sufficient for the placement
- Dual British citizenship made you ineligible, as did residing in or studying in a country outside the LDC/LMIC list, or holding permanent residency somewhere not on that list
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Required Documents for the Imperial College London Global Development Fellowship
To complete the application, you must prepare:
- Your background information showing how you meet eligibility (part of the application form).
- A Letter of Recommendation from your home institution, preferably from your PhD supervisor. This must confirm your skills and English ability.
- A Letter of Support from your proposed Imperial supervisor. This must be signed by the Head of Department.
- Answers to these questions inside the application form:
- A simple summary of your PhD work (200 words)
- What you plan to do during your placement and how it adds value to your PhD (500 words)
- How this opportunity will help you build skills, networks and competencies (250 words)
The recommendation letter and support letter must be emailed to gdhfellow
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Step by Step on How to Apply for the Imperial College London Global Development Fellowship
Here’s a clear guide to help you apply for the Imperial College London Global Development Fellowship 2026:
Step 1: Find a host supervisor at Imperial
- Visit Imperial College’s website and check the list of departments and institutes. Look for researchers whose work aligns with your PhD topic.
- Email them directly to discuss possible supervision. You can use the official template provided by the fellowship.
Step 2: Secure your letters
- Get your home supervisor to prepare your Letter of Recommendation.
- Get your Imperial host supervisor to prepare the Letter of Support and ensure it is signed by the Head of Department.
Step 3: Complete the online application form
- Fill in your personal details, eligibility information and all written answers. Make sure everything is clear and written in simple language.
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Step 4: Email your letters
Send both letters (Recommendation and Support) to the official email:
[email protected]
Step 5: Submit your application before the deadline
- Do not wait until the last minute. Late submissions will not be considered.
Step 6: Prepare for ATAS if needed
- Some research fields require an ATAS certificate. Apply early because approval can take time.
Step 7: Wait for the review outcome
- The committee will review applications in early December. Decisions will be shared by email.
Application Deadline
2025/2026 cycle closed 28 November 2025, with placements running March–July 2026. Imperial has not confirmed whether the fellowship will reopen — register interest on the official page for updates
What to Do If You’re Interested
Given Imperial hasn’t confirmed whether this fellowship will run again, the most useful step right now is registering your interest directly on Imperial’s Global Development Fellowship page, so you’re notified immediately if and when applications reopen, rather than relying on secondhand scholarship blogs that may lag behind an official announcement. If the fellowship does return in a similar form, the preparation that mattered most previously is worth starting now regardless: identifying a potential host supervisor at Imperial whose work genuinely aligns with your PhD topic, and building the relationship with your home supervisor needed to secure a strong, specific Letter of Recommendation. Given the two required letters were the most coordination-heavy part of the process, starting those conversations early gives you a real head start whenever a new cycle is confirmed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Imperial Global Development Fellowship open for 2026?
No. The 2025/2026 cycle closed on 28 November 2025, and its placements have already run their course. Imperial has stated it cannot yet confirm whether the fellowship will reopen, so there’s no guaranteed next cycle at this time.
How do I find out if the fellowship reopens?
Register your interest directly on Imperial’s official Global Development Fellowship page. Imperial has stated it will update that page and notify registered interest once a decision is made.
Could I bring my spouse or children during the placement?
No. The fellowship explicitly did not support dependents. Only the individual fellow was funded for the placement.
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Was accommodation in London included?
No. Accommodation was excluded from the funded benefits, though Imperial provided guidance to help fellows arrange their own housing.
Do I need to already be affiliated with Imperial to apply?
No, but you did need to independently identify and secure agreement from a proposed host supervisor at Imperial before applying, since a signed Letter of Support from that supervisor’s Head of Department was a required part of the application.
Disclaimer: All fellowship details, deadlines, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official Imperial College London sources as of August 2026. Information is subject to change without notice, and Imperial has not confirmed whether this fellowship will reopen. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official Imperial College London Global Development Fellowship page. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with Imperial College London.
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